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311 ST. PEBRONIA 311 Bryene then began to warn Febronia and entreat her not to let her have laboured in Tain to bring her up so carefdlly in ignorance of all evil, and even of secular matters, and begged her not to bring disgrace on her old age by forsaking her Lord, or forgetting her TOWS. She reminded her that not only men but women and young girls had been honoured with the crown of mar- tyrdom, and instanced the sister martyrs Ltbia and Leonis, the first of whom was beheaded and the other burnt. " Have yon not always praised their courage? And you, who have taught others, will surely not be found wanting." Next morning, at sunrise, a great clamour announced to the nuns that the Romans were come. Many Christians were seized and put in prison by order of Selenus, and some soldiers were sent to the conyent. They broke open the door with their axes, and, seizing Bryene, they were going to kill her on the spot; but Febronia, with a great effort, rose from her sick bed and threw herself at the feet of the soldier, con- juring him to kill her first, that she might not see the death of her spiritual mother. At this moment Primus arrived, and when he had rebuked the soldiers, he asked Bryene where the other in- habitants of the monastery were. She told him they had fled for fear of him and his companions. Then he told her she also might save herself if she would ; and, taking the soldiers away with him, he went to Lysimachus, and told him that all the nuns had left the place except two old women and one young girl, and added that the beauty of the girl was such that he had neyer seen any woman who could be compared to her, and that, if she were not so poor and obscure, she would be a worthy wife for Lysimachus himself. Lysimachus answered him, '' If for my mother's sake I will not shed the blood of the Christians, much less would it become her son to lay snares for the senrants of God. Go you and save these women, and take them to some place where they may hide from my cruel uncle Selenus." Meantime one of the wickedest of the soldiers ran and told Selenus that a beautiful girl had been found in the convent, and that Primus had spoken of her as a wife for Lysimachus. Selenus was furious, and instantly sent a guard to prevent the escape of the three nuns ; at the same time he sent a herald to proclaim through the town that next day Febronia was to be brought to a public trial. Early next morning the soldiers went to the convent, rudely pulled Febronia from her bed, bound her with iron fetters, and took her away, her old firiends to the last exhorting her not to fear the sufferings and death of the body, but to let it be announced to Bryene that her child was numbered among the martyrs. Febronia promised to obey her mother to the end, as she had always done, and added, ^'The people shflJl wonder at my courage, and shall bless your old age by saying, ' That was a true daughter of Bryene.'" Thomals promised to put on a secular dress and be present at the trial ; and | the two old nuns blessed their child and let her go with the soldiers. An im- mense concourse of people was gathered around the judgment- seat. Hieria, and all the women who used to come to the convent to hear Febronia read, were among the spectators. Febronia was led to her place wearing a heavy iron collar on her neck, and chains on her hands. Weeping and lamentation were heard, and murmurs of discontent. Selenus commanded silence, and Lysi- machus began the interrogation — ^'Tell me, young woman, of what condition you are, slave or free ? " " Whose ? " « Christ's." " What are you called ? " " A humble Christian." " But I want to know your name ? " ^ My mistress calls me Febronia." Selenus here interrupted Lysimachus by telling Febronia that he had not intended even to condescend to speak to her ; but that, seeing her honesty and modesty, he would now interrogate her, not as a criminal, but as a daughter. Having given her this encouragement, he proceeded —
 * Slave," answered she.